Smyrna times., 1887-12-21
Fire on Saturday Night.
TWO STORES BURNED OUT.

On Saturday night last that most
alarming of all cries to a town-fre-
was sounded through our streets and
those who heard it, especially the
members of the Citizens Hose Com.
pany were soon on the street in hur-
ried steps in answer to the call. The
place was the cigar store of n. NJ.
Davis, opposite the Delaware House.
and the time about half past eleven
O'Clock. The night was a bad one
the snow had been falling since the
afternoon, and was coming down thick
and fast, before a driving Northeast
wind. Most everybody was home and
abed, but several were still about the
streets and hotel, and one of these dis
covered the bright blaze in the store
and gave the alarm. 1t was taken IN
by others and carried in different direc-
tons.
Policeman Grant who was a SQUARE
below, heard the first yell, and with
quick steps hurried to the hall to give
the new bell its initial ringing, but two
Jerks slipped the rope from its place
and 1t was no longer available, but
those who did not hear it had the ben
eht on the principal streets of a lustv
voice, The smaller hose carriage was
seized by the first at the hall and hur-
ried to the scene of cOnfiagration. the
larger one coming on after, getting
stuck once or twice in the snow banks.
The store was in a bright blaze in
side and out and working its wav fast
under the window of VIM. E. Halls
store adjoining. Superintendent Tay-
~ l. h. % al.
works up to the maximum, and a min
utes play knocked the fire right down,
and it was thought there would be no
use of the other hose, but this proved
to be a mistake.
There had formerly been a door at the
second story of the brick building oc-
cupied by Hall which had been nailed
over by boards instead of being filed
in with brick and mortar when the
frame dwelling occupied by Davis was
built. Through this trap the flames
had been lured into the upper story of
Mr.. Halls store, and for ten minutes
the smoke was seen oOzing through
the roof when no fire was visible.
The back part was covered with tin
and the fire could not be got at. And
to add to the difficulty, the stock of
powder was known be in that part of
building and dangerous to enter.
Finally, an explosion was heard not
large, followed by two others in brief
period that blew the roof off, letting
fall in the same place shower of fire
and shingles. Then the flames burst
out for the first time in a lurid flame.
but the fremen were at their post with
three heavy streams of water PLAYING
on it, and it got weaker instead of
stronger until it was finally subdued,
But for the water works the store of
Geo. w. Gordon followed by those of
W. T. Beck and Edward Beck, must
have gone, and there is no telling
where it would have stopped. The
force of the powder explosion was felt
in most all parts of the town in the vi.
bratiOn of the windows.
1t was marked as a coincidence that
the fire in Christmas week year ago
was on a similar snowy night, in a
cigar store. and the general talk is that
they ought not to have been.
The buildings belonging to John @.
Stockly and the stock of w. L. Hall
were insured in the Kent County Nut
ual, but by a recent reinsurance, one
half Of this loss will fall upon the Queen
and Niagara Insurance Companies.
Mr., Halls loss has been adjusted at
$1,000 and Mr.. Stockly's will be be-
tween $500 and 5000.
Mr. Davis was insured $3.50 on stock
500 on fixtures and 500 on billiard